What We Saw: Week 8

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Cardinals @ Vikings

Final Score: Vikings 34, Cardinals 26

Writer: Brennan Rampe ( @phdinnfl on Twitter)

I had a feeling that this would be a high-scoring game and it was. I seriously need a cardiologist, as this was once again another one-possession game. Thankfully for me, the Vikings won it to run their streak to five straight and improve to 6-1 on the season. Minnesota scored a touchdown on their opening drive resulting in a Kirk Cousins rushing touchdown, which was one of the best plays of the game. The Cardinals struggled on offense early but did score near the end of the second quarter on an amazing one-handed catch by DeAndre Hopkins. The offense for both teams emerged in the second half, and four turnovers were committed in the second half. The Vikings had one of those, and Arizona had the other three. Two of those Cardinals’ turnovers resulted in touchdowns, which was the major reason they lost. The game should have been over after Kyler Murray‘s second interception but the Vikings couldn’t capitalize on it. A missed extra point by Greg Joseph after a K.J. Osborn touchdown with eight minutes left in the game made it an eight-point lead instead of a nine-point lead, which gave the Cardinals one more chance to attempt to tie the game. However, a lack of timeouts in addition to two consecutive sacks allowed Minnesota to hold on.

Arizona Cardinals

Quarterback

Kyler Murray: 31/44, 326 Yards, 3 TD, 2 INT | 6 Carries, 36 Yards, 1 Fumble (Recovered)

Mobile quarterbacks have success against the Vikings, and Kyler Murray played rather well. He started off slowly in the first quarter but threw a pass to DeAndre Hopkins at the end of the second quarter which resulted in an incredible one-handed catch. He completed most of his passes and was getting the ball out quickly to avoid the ferocious Minnesota pass rush, but he was still sacked four times. He had 36 yards running, but he has certainly had better days on the ground. He had a touchdown pass to Zach Ertz midway through the third quarter and then had one to Rondale Moore, who broke tackles on the way to the end zone. Despite throwing for over 300 yards and three touchdowns, he threw two interceptions that were both costly as both resulted in Vikings touchdowns.

Running Back

Eno Benjamin: 9 Carries, 22 Yards | 7 Targets, 4 Receptions, 23 Yards

Darrel Williams: 5 Carries, 8 Yards | 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 6 Yards

There really isn’t all that much to say about the Cardinals running game. Lead running back James Conner was inactive with a rib injury, so Eno Benjamin was the RB1 again for this game. Neither he nor Darrel Williams were factors as it was all about passing for Arizona. Benjamin had 22 yards rushing and was active in the passing game as he had 23 yards receiving, but Conner is the main running back for fantasy purposes. Arizona is a better team when he’s in the lineup.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

DeAndre Hopkins: 13 Targets, 12 Receptions, 159 Yards, TD

Rondale Moore: 2 Carries, 12 Yards | 8 Targets, 7 Receptions, 92 Yards, TD

Greg Dortch: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 12 Yards, 1 Fumble (Lost)

Zach Ertz: 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 34 Yards, TD

This Cardinals team seriously missed DeAndre Hopkins during the first six weeks of the season. He hauled in 12 of his 13 targets, had 159 yards, and had a one-handed touchdown catch. Rondale Moore was the other wide receiver that had a good game for Arizona. He caught seven of his eight targets and had a touchdown, which was a good compliment to the game Hopkins had. His touchdown was a huge catch-and-run where he broke free from Vikings players on the way to the end zone. Greg Dortch didn’t have many yards and had a muffed punt which was very costly as it led to a Minnesota touchdown. Zach Ertz had a touchdown in the third quarter, and that was about all he did.

Even when he's covered. He's open.@DeAndreHopkins x #BirdCityFootball pic.twitter.com/pX0DfJkFxv

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) October 30, 2022

almost had him, gotta be quicker than that 😉@moore_rondale x #BirdCityFootball pic.twitter.com/QoNEpUmHPG

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) October 30, 2022

Minnesota Vikings

Quarterback

Kirk Cousins: 24/36, 232 Yards, 2 TD | 4 Carries, 22 Yards, TD, 1 Fumble (Lost)

Kirk Cousins once again had a solid day, throwing two touchdown passes and running for another. He can generally be counted on to have at least one passing touchdown in a game and is one of the more reliable quarterbacks in the league. He did lose a fumble, but that was about his only major mistake.

Showing off that speed!@KirkCousins8 🏃‍♂️💨

📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/lyWN8vF9I3

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 30, 2022

Running Back

Dalvin Cook: 20 Carries, 111 Yards, TD | 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 30 Yards

Alexander Mattison: 5 Carries, 40 Yards, TD

The running game was very effective today. The Cardinals couldn’t stop the run last year, and they couldn’t stop it today. Dalvin Cook was phenomenal today, as he had over 100 yards and a touchdown while averaging over five yards per carry. Alexander Mattison was the clear second option but he also contributed a touchdown.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Justin Jefferson: 8 Targets, 6 Receptions, 98 Yards

Adam Thielen: 7 Targets, 6 Receptions, 67 Yards

K.J. Osborn: 5 Targets, 2 Receptions, 8 Yards, TD

Irv Smith Jr.: 4 Targets, 4 Receptions, 28 Yards

Johnny Mundt: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 1 Yard, TD

Justin Jefferson didn’t reach 100 yards, falling two yards short. He catches pretty much anything that is thrown his way. He averaged over 16 yards per reception. Adam Thielen caught six of seven targets and looked to be injured on one play, but came back in the game almost immediately, demonstrating his toughness. K.J. Osborn didn’t have huge numbers but caught the touchdown midway through the fourth quarter which extended Minnesota’s lead. Irv Smith Jr. caught all four of his targets, but Johnny Mundt made the most of his only target by catching his first career touchdown.